Event Details

Extremely important and timely opportunity to see first-hand and become informed about the threat to one of our city’s most historically and architecturally valuable neighbourhoods

Heritage Vancouver will be holding a free walking tour of First Shaughnessy to look at the potential adoption of a Heritage Conservation Area to tackle the spike in demolitions, and the deterioration of architectural integrity, neighbourhood character and landscaping which the neighbourhood is experiencing. The First Shaughnessy Heritage Conservation Area Public Hearing convenes for public comment for a 3rd time at City Hall, two days after this tour, on September 15, 2015.

Sunday, September 13, 2015; 10amMeet at the south side of The Crescent (Shaughnessy Park) opposite The Hollies

Join Richard Keate, longtime Shaughnessy resident, chair of the Vancouver Heritage Commission and Heritage Vancouver board member, for a tour of First Shaughnessy on the eve of the 3rd public hearing to consider making First Shaughnessy Vancouver's first Heritage Conservation Area.

First Shaughnessy is a unique area to Vancouver, with its lush estate-style landscaping, distinctive development pattern and concentration of homes which are irreplaceable for their architecture, design, and use of materials. Declaring First Shaughnessy a Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) would equip council with a powerful tool to conserve important heritage resources in this neighbourhood.

Richard will point out threatened heritage houses, demolition through neglect, loss of green space and landscaping, and excessive additions to homes that overwhelm the space and character of the area through the exploitation of loopholes in the existing development plan.

He will follow up by delving into the potential benefits this precedent setting tool for heritage conservation in our city can bring to address these problems including:

sensible increases to density in the form of family friendly infill residences and multiple conversion dwellings as an incentive for retention

the introduction of maintenance standards to limit neglect

clear language on design guidelines that prevents people from taking advantage of loopholes in order to build out-of-context McMansions and/or additions.